Machine for treating wheels of railroad vehicles



UCL 10, 1967 T. DOMBROWSKI 3,345,890

` MACHINE FQR TREATING WHEELS OF RAILROAD VEHICLES Filed Feb. '7, l966 4 Sheets-Sheet l MACHINE FOR TREATING WHEELS OF RAILROAD VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet fa Filed Feb.

Figa

r O A m. m 9 V 1 @L L QL pw llilnuli T/ LEUW- lll-lr ,I ,ma 5 M f, L.: @l .w a/ jfli; f LVA. J lli f. .N W y. ,2m ,W

Oct. 10, 1967 r. DoMBRowsKl 3,345,890

MACHINE FOR TREATING WHEELS 0F RAILROAD VEHICLES Filed Feb. 7, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 z 25 tu 2i f h 5 7/ I ff i F/'g und;

Oct. 10, 1967 T. DoMBRowsKl 3,345,890

MACHINE FOR TREATING WHEELS OF RAILROAD VEHICLES Filed Feb. '7, 15366` 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent C 14 anims. (el. sz-s) The present invention relates to a machine for treating the wheels of -railroad vehicles. More particularly, the invention relates to a machine which can turn, or otherwise remove material from, the rims and flanges of wheels on Wheel assemblies without necessitating dismantling of such assemblies. Still more particularly, the invention relates to a machine which treats the wheels while the wheels remain mounted an their axle and while the wheels 'are caused to rotate with reference to one or more material removing tools.

It is Well known that the rims and flanges of Wheels on railroad vehicles must be treated from time to time to eliminate such unevennesses which develop due to deyformation resulting from strong impact of a hard object against the wheels, from extensive Wear in response t-o prolonged rubbing Aand rolling contact with the rails or brakes,and/or from eccentricity of wheels. As a rule, each modern railroad vehicle is equipped with Yso-called multiple-wear wheels which can be turned from time to time to eliminate shoulders which develop on the rims in response to engagement with the brakes and/or other unevennesses. Conventional machines which are used for turning of railroad wheels are normally mounted in pits below the level of rails and are equipped with two pairs of driving rollers which can move up and down to support and to rotate both wheels of a wheel assembly at a time while a cutter removes material first from the rim and, if necessary, from the ilange of the respective wheel. The thickness of shavings which can be removed from revolving wheels depends on the torque which can be transmitted by the driving rollers. The magnitude of such torque depends on the pressure between the wheels and the driving rollers and on the 4coet'licient of friction.

The weight of a locomotive or of a loaded freight car normally suffices to insure `satisfactory engagement between the wheels `and the driving rollers. However, when such conventional apparatus are called upon to treat the wheels of empty passenger coaches or empty freight cars, it happens again and again that the weight of the vehicle does not suice to insure satisfactory transmission of torque. The problem is even more acute when a wheel assembly (which includes two wheels, two journal boxes and an axle) is detached from the remainder of the vehicle and is treated subsequent to such detachment. The weight of a wheel assembly is relatively small (when compared with the weight of a normal locomotive) so that j 3,345,890 Patented ocr. 1o, 1967 ICC of the just outlined characteristics which may be used for treatment of both wheels of a wheel assembly at a time, regardless of whether the wheel assembly is detached from or remains mounted in a railroad vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above outlined characteristics which is capable of insuring satisfactory rotation of wheels on wheel assemblies of the type wherein the journal boxes are located between the wheels or vice versa.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a novel system of clamping units which may be utilized in the improved machine to transmit stresses to a wheel assembly in a sense to retain the wheels in satisfactory motion receiving engagement with the driving rollers. j

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for turning the Wheels of wheel assemblies in railroad vehicles whichis constructed and assembled in such a way that the turning of wheels requires much less time than in presently known turning machines.

An additional object of my invention is to provide a novel control system which regulates the operation of moving parts in the improved machine and to construct and assembleV the control system in such a way that each wheel of a wheel assembly can be pressed against the corresponding set ofV driving rollers with an accurately determined force such as is best suited for rapid removal of material from the rims and flanges of the wheels.

An ancillary object of the present invention is to provide very simple stress transmitting devices which may be utilized in the improved machine when the latter is to treat the wheels of wheel assemblies wherein the journal boxes are located between the wheels.

Briey stated, one feature of my present invention resides in tbe provision of a pit-mounted machine for treating the wheels of wheel assemblies on railroad vehicles (either while the assemblies are detached from or while such :assemblies remain connected to the vehicles), ln its elementary form, the improved machine comprises a pair of vertically reciprocable slides or similar supports, one for each wheel of a wheel assembly, two sets of driving rollers each mounted on one of the supports, a

the treatment of wheels progresses very slowly because the tools cannot remove too much material at a time with-out risking slippage of driving rollers, excessive vibration and noise, breakage of tools and other inconveniences.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the invention to provide a novel machine which can treat both wheels of a wheel assembly at a time and which is constructed and assembled in such a way that it can compensate for insufficient weight of a wheel assembly in order tor insure that the wheels will rotate with the driving rollers Veven when the tools which treat the rims and/ or the anges remove relatively thick shavings from the peripheral surfaces of such parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine drive for rotating the rollers wherebythe rollers drive the corresponding Wheels when they are allowed to en` gage the wheels, first displacing means for moving the supports up and down so that the rollers may engage the respective wheels of a wheel assembly when the supports are caused to move upwardly so that the weight of the assembly rests on the rollers, a pair of groundsupported clamping units, one for each wheel of -a wheel assembly, and second displacing means -for moving the clamping units up and down so that, while moving down` wardly, each clamping unit may engage the wheel assembly in the region of the respective wheel in order to press the wheels against the corresponding rollers. This insures that the rollers can transmit a Very high torque despite the fact that the turning tools remove relatively thick shavings from the revolving wheels and irrespective ofthe exact weight of the wheel assembly and of all parts which are supported thereby, i.e., regardless of whether the wheel assembly is mounted in or deta-ched from a locomotive,

. coach, freight car or another railroad vehicle.

, If the journal boxes of the wheel assembly are located between the Wheels, the jaws of the clamping units preferably straddle the wheels and may transmit stresses q through the intermediary of suitable wedges or analogous The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved machine itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specic embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic side elevational View of one-half of a pit-mounted wheel turning machine which embodies one form of Imy invention and which is shown in the process of treating the wheels of an assembly wherein the wheels are located between the journal boxes so that the clamping units can be moved into direct engagement with the journal boxes;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of one-half of a pit-mounted machine which is about to treat the Wheels of an assembly wherein the journal boxes are located between the wheels;

FIG. 3 is a section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line III-III of FIG. l and illustrates a wheel assembly before the wheels are actually engaged by the driving rollers;

FIG. 4 is a similar section and illustrates the driving rollers in actual driving engagement with the wheels;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational View of a wheel and illustrates the manner in which a driving roller can support the rim of the wheel; and

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary side elevational view and illustrates the manner in which the driving roller can engage and support the ange of the wheel.

Referring lirst to FIGS. l and 3, there is shown one half of a machine which is mounted in a pit 25 and serves to turn the anges and rims of wheels 2 on wheel assemblies W of the type comprising an axle 1, two Wheels 2 and two journal boxes 12. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 3, the wheels 2 are located between the journal boxes 12. The pit 25 forms part of a twin or dual pit Whose halves are located below the wheels 2 when the assembly W is caused to advance to a level above the machine. Thus, the second pit 25 is located to the left of FIG. 1 below the left-hand wheel (not shown) of the assembly W. However, it is clear that the pit can consist of a single excavation which then extends along the full length of the axle 1.

FIGS. l and 3 show one of the rails 26 which support the assembly W during travel to and from the actual treating or working station. This rail 26 comprises two portions 26a, 26b which can extend across the pit 25 of FIGS. 1 and 3 and are swingable about vertical pivots 28 toward and away from the observer of FIG. 3.

Since the improved machine comprises two mirror symmetrical parts or halves whose construction and mode of operation are identical, it suices to describe the part which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. This part comprises a main carrier or housing 6 which is mounted on the bottom wall of the pit 25 and is provided with vertical ways 5 for a rst slide or support 4 which carries a set of driving rollers 3 each rotatable about a horizontal axis. The support 4 is movable up and down along the ways 5 by a hydraulic displacing device which includes two piston rods 7 whose pistons 7a are reciprocable in upright cylinders 13 mounted on the bottom wall of the pit 25 at a level below the support 4.

A pivotable auxiliary supporting member or prop 27 is mounted on a second slide or tool holder 29 carried by a third slide 21 which is reciprocable along vertical ways 20 provided on the support 4. The tool holder 29 is movable along ways 21a on the slide 21, the ways 21a being parallel with the axle 1. The tool holder 29 also supports a turning tool 29a which can be moved upwardly in response to displacement of the slide 21 so as to remove material from the rim or from the flange of the wheel 2.

When the wheel assembly W is advanced to the working station, the rail portions 26a, 2611 assume the positions shown in FIG. 3 and the support 4 is moved to its lower end position. The rail portions 26a, 26b dene between themselves a gap which receives the prop- 27 whose head 27a then engages the rim of the wheel 2. By slightly raising the slide 21, the operator can lift the Wheel 2 above the rail 26 so that the rail portions 26a, 26b may be swung away. The support 4 is then raised (see FIG. 4) and the slide 21 is lowered so that the head 27a moves to a level below the wheel 2 and the latter rests solely on ythe driving rollers 3. By pivoting the prop 27 to the idle position of FIG. 4 and by thereupon raising the slide 21, the operator can move the tip of the tool 29a into engagement with the wheel 2. Also, by shifting the tool holder 29 along the ways 21a of the slide 21, the operator can place the tool 29a into registry with the rim or with the ange of the wheel 2.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the machine comprises a further ground-supported cylinder 23 which accommodates a piston 22a whose piston rod 22 can raise the slide 21 along the ways 20 together with the tool holder 29, prop 27 and tool 29a.

In accordance with an important feature of my invention, the housing 6 further carries a second support or crosshead 9 for a horizontally reciprocable clamping unit 10 having a jaw 11 which can transmit stresses to the journal box 12 in order to maintain the wheel 2 in requisite motion-receiving engagement with the driving rollers 3. The unit 10 is provided with one or more guide rails 10a which can slide in complementary grooves of the support 9 and are parallel with the axle 1 so that the jaw 11 may be shifted toward and away from registry with the journal box 12.

The displacing means for moving the clamping unit 10 up and down comprises two hydraulic cylinders 8a which are installed in or form part of the housing 6, two

pistons 8b which are reciprocable in the cylinders 8a, and two upright piston rods 8 which are connected with the pistons 8b and support 9.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the prop 27 is hinged at 30 so that it may turn about a horizontal pivot axis (compare FIGS. 3 and 4). Instead of actually engaging the wheel 2, the prop 27 may serve as an abutment for the free ends of the rail portions 26a, 26b and is lowered when the weight of the assembly W is transferred onto the driving rollers 3 in response to raising of the support 4 by the piston rods 7.

The motor or motors which drive the shafts 3a of the rollers 3 are accommodated in the support 4. For example, the rollers 3 may be driven by a single electric motor.

FIG. 5 illustrates the manner in which a driving roller 3 can support the rim 36 of a wheel 2. The rim 36 is of `slightly conical shape and is engaged by a complementary frustoconical portion 32 of the roller 3. The ange 37 of the wheel 32 is adjacent to the smallerdiameter end of the frustoconical portion 32 and the roller 3 further comprises a strongly conical portion 34 which rolls along a complementary conical portion 35 of the wheel 2.

By shifting the roller 3 axially of the shaft 3a, the flange 37 may register with and can thereupon enter a circumferential groove 33 in the frustoconical portion 32, see FIG. 6. The toolr29a is then free to treat the rim 36. In the position of FIG. 5, the roller 3 does not interfere with removal of material from the flange 37.

It will be seen that the conical portions 33, 34 (in cooperation with similar conical portions of driving rollers 3 which engage and support the second wheel 2) hold the assembly W against any axial displacement during removal of material bythe tools 29a. When the anges 37 enter the grooves 33 of the corresponding rollers 3, the assembly W is again held against axial movement.

The hydraulic control system of the machine comprises a pressure tank 14 which may be connected with the lower chambers of the cylinders 13 by means of valves 14a installed in connecting conduits 14b so that the support 4 and the rollers 3 may actually oat to follow the outline of an eccentric wheel 2. This insures that both rollers 3 remain in continuous driving engagement with the wheel 2 even if the rim 36 or the flange 37 exhibits flat surface portions, shoulders, excessively worn-down surface portions or other defects. The pressure tank 14 may comprise two compartments which are separated by a diaphragm 14e` and the lower of which is lled with strongly compressed nitrogen or other suitable gas. The upper compartment is filled with oil or another hydraulic fluid and is connected with the lower chambers of the cylinders 13 when the valves 14a are open.

The valves which admit or Vpermit discharge of oil from the lower chambers of the cylinders 13.in orderto Yraise or lower the support 4 are not shown inthe drawings. A distributor valve 24 (see FIG. 1)V is usedV to regulate the flow of oil into the upper and lower chambers of the cylinders 8a in order to raise lor lowerth'e clamping unit 10. Thus, when the valve 24 admits a suitable pressure medium into the upper chambers of the cylinders 8a, the jaw 11 of the clamping unit 10 moves downwardly and bears against the journal box 12 in order to insure that the wheel 2 is properly biased against the driving rollers 3. The valve 24 can regulate the pressure in the cylinders 8a so that the stresses transmitted by the unit 10 are fully controlled and may be selected in dependency on the rate at which the tool 29a is fed against the wheel 2. Such feed is controlled by a valve (not shown) which admits oil into the lower chamber of the cylinder 23 so that the slide 21 moves upwardly and raises the tool.

FIG. 2 illustrates one half of a somewhat modified machine which comprises all the elements of the heretofore described machine and is further provided with a stress transmitting device 16. Such device is necessary because the machine of FIG. 2 is illustrated in the process of treating the wheels 2 of an assembly W wherein the journal boxes 17 are located between the wheels. The assembly W is assumed to be mounted in a railroad vehicle having a frame member 15 which can be directly engaged by the jaw 11. f course, the unit 10 has been shifted along the support 9 so that it overlies and straddles the wheel 2 and its jaw 11 is located at a level above the journal box 17. The device 16 is actually a wedge or another suitable distancing member which is inserted between the frame member 15 and box 17 to offset the action of the customary spring 18. Thus, the device 16 prevents the frame member 15 from moving closer to the box 17 so that the latter transmits stresses from the jaw 11 to the axle 1 and thence to the wheel 2Vwhich bears against the driving rollers 3. The remaining parts of the machine shown in FIG. 2 are identical with the parts of the machine which is illustrated in FIGS. l and 3 to 6.

The operation of the machine shown in FIG. 2 is as follows:

When a locomotive or another railroad vehicle is to have its wheels turned by the tools 29a, the Vehicle is driven onto the rail portions 26a whose free ends are then supported by the prop 27. The supports 4 are then lifted by admitting fluid below the pistons 7a so that the driving rollers 3 engage and lift the wheels 2 above the rail 26. In the next step, the rail portions 26a, 26b are swung aside and the rollers 3 are coupled to their motor or motors to rotate the wheels 2. The clamping units 10 are lifted sufficiently above the wheels so that their jaws 11 may be shifted above the frame member 15. By admitting oil above the pistons 8b, the operator causes the jaws 11 to descend and to bear against the frame member 15 whereby the latter transmits stresses through the distancing members 16, journal boxes 17 and axle 1 so that the wheels 2 bear against the rollers 3. The cylinders 23 receive oil below the pistons 22a so that the slides 21 rise and move the tips of the tools 29a into material removing engagement with the rims 36 or flanges 37. The valves 14a are opened so that the rollers 3 are biased against the wheels 2 and remain in contact with such wheels regardless of eventual eccentricity or other defects. T-he pressure between the rollers 3 and wheels 2 may be regulated by the valve 24 and/or by the valves 14a. The slides 21 and the clamping devices 10 are supported by the ground so that they need not participate in any reciprocatory movements of the parts 2 and 3. As a rule, the flanges 37 are treated after the treatment of rims 36 is completed. This is due to the fact that the flanges are normally subjected to lesser wear. The ways 20 enable the supports 4 to move with reference to the slides 21 or vice versa.

A very important advantage of my improved machine is that it can rapidly complete the treatment of wheel assemblies which may but need not be mounted in a railroad vehicle. Also, the improved machine can treat wheels with damaged flanges and/ or rims. The machine requires little time fora new setup, for example, when a relatively heavy locomotive is followed by a relatively light subway car, or vice versa.

Since the machine insures that the pressure between the wheels and the driving rollers suffices for transmissionof driving torque irrespective of the weight of the wheel assembly, the turning` tools are not likely to break and can remove relatively thick shavings to thereby reducev the time which is necessary for completion of a turning operation. The thickness of shavings varies in the course of the actual turning operation because the wear on all portions of a rim or flange is not uniform. Therefore, and in order to prevent breakage of tools, the operators of conventional wheel turning machines invariably set the tools in such a way that they remove little material at a time whereby the interval required for completion of the operation is much longer than desirable. My irnproved machine fully avoids such drawbacks of conventional machines, not only because the jaws 11 of the clamping devices 10 prevent upward movement of the journal boxes 12 or 17 but also because the tanks 14 compensate for eventual eccentricity of wheels so that the displacing devices for the supports 4 act not unlike cushions to maintain the driving rollers 3 in continuous motion transmitting contact with the wheels.

Without further analysis, the foregoing vwill so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of my contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptation should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. A pit-mounted machine for treating the wheels of wheel assemblies on railroad vehicles, comprising a pair of supports, one for each wheel of a wheel assembly; two sets of driving rollers each mounted on one of said Supports; first displacing means for moving said supports up and down so that the rollers may engage the respective wheels from below when the supports are moved upwardly; a pair of ground-supported clamping units, one for each of said wheels; and second displacing means for moving said clamping units up and down so that, while moving downwardly, each of said units may engage the wheel assembly in the region of the respective wheel to press the wheels against the corresponding sets of rollers.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 for treating the wheels of wheel assemblies wherein each assembly comprises two journal boxes located between the wheels, further comprising stress-transmitting devices adapted to be placed between the journal boxes and the respective clamping units so that, while moving downwardly, such units may transmit stresses through the respective devices.

3. A machine as set forth in claim 1 for treating the wheels of wheel assemblies wherein each assembly comprises two journal boxes with the wheels located between such journal boxes, each of said clamping units cornprising a portion arranged to bear against the respective journal box when the wheels rest on the corresponding rollers and the clamping units move downwardly.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising two vertically reciprocable ground-supported tool holders, one for each wheel of a wheel asembly, and third displacing means for moving the tool holders up and down whe-reby the tools mounted on such tool holders can move into and from material removing engagement with the wheels.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein each of said displacing means comprises at least two hydraulic cylinder and piston assemblies.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 4, wherein said tool holders are reciprocable along ways provided on the respective supports.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said clamping units is reciprocable in the axial direction of a wheel assembly on said driving rollers.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rst displacing means comprises a pair of cushioning means for biasing said rollers against the respective wheels.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising ground-supported housing means for said supports, said housing means including vertical ways for said supports.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 9, vwherein said housing means comprises two separate parts, one for each of said supports.

11. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping units are arranged to prevent upward movement of the journal boxes of a wheel assembly on said rollers and said rst displacing means com-prises means for yieldably biasing the rollers upwardly and against the wheels.

12. A machine as set forth in claim 1, further comprising drive means for said rollers including a horizontal shaft for each roller, said rollers being adjustable in the axial direction of the respective shafts so that each thereof may transmit torque to the rim or flange of a wheel.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said clamping units are reciprocable in the axial direction of said rollers.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said displacing means comprises fluid-operated cylinder and piston assemblies and control means for operating said assemblies independently of each other.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,323,397 6/1967 Ladoues 82-8 HARRISON L. HINSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PIT-MOUNTED MACHINE FOR TREATING THE WHEELS OF WHEEL ASSEMBLIES ON RAILROAD VEHICLES, COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUPPORTS, ONE FOR EACH WHEEL OF A WHEEL ASSEMBLY; TWO SETS OF DRIVING ROLLERS EACH MOUNTED ON ONE OF SAID SUPPORTS; FIRST DISPLACING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID SUPPORTS UP AND DOWN SO THAT THE ROLLERS MAY ENGAGE THE RESPECTIVE WHEELS FROM BELOW WHEN THE SUPPORTS ARE MOVED UPWARDLY; A PAIR OF GROUND-SUPPORTED CLAMPING UNITS, ONE 